3 killed in shootout

MANILA, Philippines - Three persons, including a barangay watchman, were killed in a shootout with police officers in Port Area, Manila Friday night.

Jody Roncales, barangay tanod of Baseco Compound in Tondo, died while being treated at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Hospital. A certain “alias Rex” and an unidentified man died on the spot.

In a report by Senior Police Officer 3 Ronald Gallo, Inspector Melchor Villar and his men were conducting an anti-crime drive at around 5 p.m. along Block 9 Extension in Baseco when the suspects fired upon them.

In the ensuing gunfight, Roncales was critically wounded while the two suspects tried to flee while firing their weapons, but were eventually cornered and killed.

The man identified only as Rex was a suspect in the killing of a Manila police officer earlier this year, Gallo said.